Tost critical of engine token system

Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost has described Formula 1's power unit token development system as 'nonsense' and wants the situation to be changed.

A power unit is broken down to 66 tokens, with a loophole in the regulations meaning that the 32 tokens which teams can use to modify the unit can be applied across the season, rather than solely in the winter period.

Tost believes that having restricted development on power units is hurting the competitive nature of the sport.

"For me, it's absolutely nonsense," Tost told GPUpdate.net. "I remember, I said this already three or four years ago, that with the new power unit regulations, if one manufacturer is in front, then with the token regulations the others cannot catch up.

"In those days, manufacturers said they had to save money. I said, 'In Formula 1, you can't save money'. Now we have the situation that Mercedes is far ahead, and the others are behind, and therefore it should be free for every manufacturer to develop the engine as they want to.

"If it doesn't have the money, it shouldn't be in Formula 1 – it's as simple as that."